The Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that carries warm air from the tropical to higher latitudes at about four miles an hours. It is able to change climate (Taylor, Ferari, & Joyce, 2013). The Gulf Stream starts in Florida and moves north toward Cape Hatteras. After the cape, it goes out to sea off the slope into deeper water. In the deep water, it becomes a fast ocean current. The warm water within the ocean increases the likelihood of hurricanes. As the Gulf Stream continues to move north, it meets with the North Atlantic Drift and heads toward Europe changing the climate there. Another southern branch of the stream goes toward West Africa. The Gulf Stream is sometimes referred to as the planet’s thermostat; it is also thought to cause global climate change. The picture attached shows how the Gulf Stream starts off the coast of Florida where the weather is tropical. The stream continues to stay warm but moves up the coast faster than the rest of the ocean water. It then mixes with the Labrador Current which is cold water. This is where the climate change or storms come in. The North Atlantic Drift then heads to Europe. A submersible, called the Benjamin Franklin, was manned and followed the Gulf Stream along the ocean floor to investigate the Gulf Stream theory. This was done at the same time as man was walking on the moon and did not get much press. I have added a video link . Recently this theory has been challenged. Some climate models suggest that heat is already stored in the ocean off of Europe. This warm water is released in the winter when the wind interacts with the surface of the ocean or by pressure systems (Riser & Lozier, Feb 13). It is also thought that it may be the melting ice in the Artic that is interfering with the Gulf Stream. This may be due to global warming. The new theories would need to be tested, but in any event, it should make interesting text book changes for the future. I have included a thermal image of the Gulf Stream in hopes to depict the extent of the warm water reaching the cooler water and changing the climate. The red shows the warm water in tropical climate. It also shows how it moves up the coast of the Atlantic. As scientists continuously study our planet and new technology is made, we will see many changes in our theories on climate change as well as the ocean itself.
References http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vistunes/f0004_index.html. (n.d.).
Riser, S. C., & Lozier, S. M. (Feb 13). Rethinking the Gulf Stream. Scientific American, 50-55.
Thomas, L. N., Taylor, J. R., Ferari, R., & Joyce, T. M. (2013). Symmetric instability in the Gulf Stream. Elsevier, 95-110.
The Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that carries warm air from the tropical to higher latitudes at about four miles an hours. It is able to change climate (Taylor, Ferari, & Joyce, 2013).
The Gulf Stream starts in Florida and moves north toward Cape Hatteras. After the cape, it goes out to sea off the slope into deeper water. In the deep water, it becomes a fast ocean current. The warm water within the ocean increases the likelihood of hurricanes.
As the Gulf Stream continues to move north, it meets with the North Atlantic Drift and heads toward Europe changing the climate there. Another southern branch of the stream goes toward West Africa.
The Gulf Stream is sometimes referred to as the planet’s thermostat; it is also thought to cause global climate change.
The picture attached shows how the Gulf Stream starts off the coast of Florida where the weather is tropical. The stream continues to stay warm but moves up the coast faster than the rest of the ocean water. It then mixes with the Labrador Current which is cold water. This is where the climate change or storms come in. The North Atlantic Drift then heads to Europe.
A submersible, called the Benjamin Franklin, was manned and followed the Gulf Stream along the ocean floor to investigate the Gulf Stream theory. This was done at the same time as man was walking on the moon and did not get much press. I have added a video link .
Recently this theory has been challenged. Some climate models suggest that heat is already stored in the ocean off of Europe. This warm water is released in the winter when the wind interacts with the surface of the ocean or by pressure systems (Riser & Lozier, Feb 13).
It is also thought that it may be the melting ice in the Artic that is interfering with the Gulf Stream. This may be due to global warming.
The new theories would need to be tested, but in any event, it should make interesting text book changes for the future.
I have included a thermal image of the Gulf Stream in hopes to depict the extent of the warm water reaching the cooler water and changing the climate.
The red shows the warm water in tropical climate. It also shows how it moves up the coast of the Atlantic.
As scientists continuously study our planet and new technology is made, we will see many changes in our theories on climate change as well as the ocean itself.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3gzrHfPAjU
References
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vistunes/f0004_index.html. (n.d.).
Riser, S. C., & Lozier, S. M. (Feb 13). Rethinking the Gulf Stream. Scientific American, 50-55.
Thomas, L. N., Taylor, J. R., Ferari, R., & Joyce, T. M. (2013). Symmetric instability in the Gulf Stream. Elsevier, 95-110.
Bernadette Mooney